The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-10-29

monkey; so when they leap upon the
mothers back they clasp their tail
about hers and 80 retain their hold;
the mother bending her tail over
her back so that all may have a
secure grasp, and in this way the fam
lily travels about among the tree-tops
in search of food.
Nearly all the monkeys carry their
young in their arms, and they are often
seen astride of the neck, peering over
the mothers shoulder in comical
way. The whale will often support
her young on her back, and / remem-
Der an instance where a California
whale and calf were followed in shore;
the latter, wounded by the whalers, was
fioundering about and sinking, ulti-
mately TO be drowned, when the devoted
mother rushed to the rescue, and placing
herself under the enormous baby lifted
it up near the surface 50 that it rested
upon her back, and actually endeav-
orcd to carry it off in this position,
falling victim to the bomb of the
whalers while attempting the rescue.
The sea otter, that is found in the
same waters. is also noted for the care
of its young, the little ones being carried
about in every conceivable position.
They are often found in the great kelp
beds that lie between tho breakers and
the shore in some parts of the Pacific
coast The gigantic weed breaks the
force of the waves, and forms partial
resting place. Here the offers are
often seen lying upon their backs or
swimming about, bearing their little
ones. and sometimes tossing them into
the air just as human mothers toss
their babies to hear their shouts of
merrimcnt.
The dugong, with its grotesque. all
most human face, supports its young
upon its tlippers, and this occurrence
is probably the origin Of many of The
tales of mermaids which so many of
the ancient works contain. The old
voyagers, seeing the curious figure
half out of the water, holding the
young in so human position, readily
believed it to be the mermaid of which
they had heard.
There is hardly q branch of the ami
nal kingdom in which we can not find
some creature whose little ones ride
pick-a-pack. The young scorpions as
soon as born crawl upon their mother,
covering her with bristling array OF
claws and tails. 50 that she is often
completely hidden, and, terrible to
relate, they soon devour her for her
pains.
Many spiders ride about upon their
parents back, and when they are dis
posed to stray away first fasten a
thread Of silk to her, as a sort of apron
string by which they can travel back.
The mother spiders are particularly
careful of their young, and when
bearing the egg-sac about are very
courageous. l have taken hold of an
egg bag held by mother, and had
her dart at my hand, pull and strug-
gle. and only release her hold when
she was actually forced away. To
protect their nests some species adopt
the most remarkable expedients Some
make burrows in the ground which are
closed by spring doors covered by
growing plants placed there. it is al
legged. by the spiders themselves. Once
in these silk-lined dens, the enemy
might expect to find the young spider
family, but, branching off from the
main tunnel. another will be found,
also having q door, which closes so
perfectly that only the sharpcst-cyed
enemy can perceive it. and here, per-
haps, the young iders lie concealed.
feeding on the results of their parents
foraging.
Other spiders envelop their young in
siken balloon. and suspend it by a
single thread, and thus footing in
the air it is safe from attack. - Vide
A19aGe.
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